Duplex steam condenser



Feb. 19, 1952 J. FANNING DUPLEX STEAM CONDENSER Filed Feb. 1, 1950 m w m JACK FANNING BY \Qj ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED PATENT OFFICE DUPLEXSEIEAM CONDENSER Ja k Fan tlan a Ga- Application February 1, 195I ),-S eria l No.-14l,669

6 Claimslib-:11)

This invention relates to a duple steam 58 dens r an -more particula y t th cons u -tie and arrangement of a steam condensing unit utilizingcirc atin ,wate xfc co lin n devices which ope ate by steam s c s steam engines and steam presses, it is paiticu larly advantageous to collectithe steam after use and c ndense itfor re-use inthe boiler, since this saves-th exp ns o was d wate and, furth r, it is d sir bl to ma ntain t llec ed boi feed-wa er e igh a e ree of temperatur a possible, since thissaves the expense of .-fu el for reheating thewater in the boiler; and, in collectingthe-usedsteam ,from the particular device, all cr is substanc ssuc a muls fi iLm r mov d before the a er is e odu d i t t e bo ler vari us pr o a c nd se s h be n d eleped o s in cqniun tion h Steam enerating systems, but they have ,-.beenirnpractical from impo tant standp int such as x ns v ness in initial purchase .or heavy maintenance during continuous-operationdue to their failure to withstand the large changes in pressure and t mperature i vo ed in c den in s eam- Annbi c ft i nv onis t in? i a cond nse whic is c s u an ar ang d t w thstand thehc anses i p essure and tem eratun involved inc nden ins s am- ...Another object of th n ention i pr vi a condenser which effectively separates emulsified substances from the steam. 1

A further object of this invention resides in the particular construction whereby the condensate is maintained at a high degree of temperature.

Also an object of this invention is to provide a condenser which is inexpensiveto fabricate and market.

Another object of this invention is toprovide-a condenser which may bereadily utilized with all typesqf steam systems.

An additional object of this invention is to provide acondenser which is safe and economical to maintain and operate.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference designate throughout the several views, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top view, partly in cross-section, of

em odim n o m inven on ;Fis .2 .i cr s -se iipna w en an h l ne ZN-: 0f ifis- .l-

ia i a cross-sectiona v w en 2 th line 3-3 of Fig. 1

In the embodiment of my invention chosen for illustration, an inlet pipe II] has a bifurcated portion formingca pair of .parallel condenser corresponding parts lid 2 tubes 11, I I' which after a continuation rejoin or come together to form an outlet pipe I2 which connects to a condensate header pipe I3. The header pipe I3 in turn feeds into smaller header tubes I4 which in turn feed into an auxiliary header pipe I5 from which the condensate would empty into-the conventional skim tank .or sump. Each of the condenser tubes II, II' is jacketed or surrounded by cooling water jackets I6, II5, respectively; which .form an enclosed casing around the condenser tubes II, II. The cooling jackets I6, I6 are provided with input pipe lines I 1, [1' for receiving cooling liquid near the junction at outlet pipe I2, and output pipe lines'I8, I8 for drawing the heated cooling .water off near the input tube III; The inputlines I], I1 and the output lines I8, I8 may be connected to any suitable continuous cooling water system which pumps the cooling water in at a point near the outlet pipe I2 and out at a point near the inlet which, as is readily seen in Fig. 2, comprises blades or'baiiles arranged-in 90 sectors, and the function of these vanes will be subsequentlydescribed. Also located internally of each of the condenser tubes :I I, II are expansion orifices 2 I, 1-2 I, each being placed beyondthe straightening vanes .I9, I9, respectively, the junction at which the tubes ,I I, I I join outlet pipe I2.

Spray, chambers 22, -22 are formed at the crotch or intersecting portion of the condenser tubes I I, -I I near the input tube I0 andthe output tube I2, respectiVeIy and spray chambers 22, 22" house spray nozzles '23, 23, respectively, which are-provided with a cool liquid through a common pipe line 24.

sIn-the-operation of my duplex steam condenser, steam from the exhaust side of the particular apparatus-being operated moves by-its own energy throug-hthe inlet'pipe I 0 reaching the bifurcated portion orcrotchfor-med by the branching off of v the tubes ,I I, II; and as the steam divides off into -the-tubes I;I, I;I' it receives .a small amount of.cold,water sprayed f-rom the nozzle 2-3. Passing on through the-separate condenser tubes H, II ,thesteam is continuouslybeing cooled by the coolingwaterinside the jackets I6, I5 circulating in the opposite direction from the movement of the steam.

As the steam contacts the first set of straight- .ening vanes I9, 2 11, the turbulence is decreased, and the steam pr ceedsouthrough to the second set pf straightening vanes 19229 which further reduce the turbul nc The the stea r e through the expansion o i es into the second crotch portion wher it rec iv s a sma spray of .cool liquid 13mm the 3 5 1 .123- F nal y the steam enters the output tube I2 and from there goes into the header pipe I3, through the submerged tubes l4, into the auxiliary header pipe [5, emerging as hot water which is collected in an ordinary skim or sump tank for re-introduction as boiler feed water.

By the addition of cold water through the ,nozzles 23, 23', any emulsified substance, such as oil or the like, in the steam is turned back into its natural state and is deposited in the skim tank in that form; and the added quantity of water causes the skim tank to have a slight overflow at all times, and this overflow carries with it the undesirable oil slick, thereby preventing any reintroduction into the boiler.

In my new and novel duplex steam condenser, the temperature, velocity, and pressure of the steam are reduced gradually rather than all at once. The two branches or duplex tubes H, H separate the steam for cooling, and. the action of the two pairs of straightening vanes l9, l9 and 20, 20 along with the expansion orifices 2|, 2| successively reduce the turbulence and give better cooling efiiciency with less noise. This arrangement also provides a careful equality of pressures which assures a condenser of longer life.

Moreover, the use of my invention does not create any back-pressure on the apparatus, but in fact reduces the pressure and affords greater operating efliciency' for the machine.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modificationsand changes may be made in the embodiment of my invention shown and described without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a plurality of pipes branching from said inlet pipe and said outlet pipe and forming crotches therebetween, a spray chamber communicating with one of said crotches, condenser tubes interconnecting the pipes branching from said inlet pipe with the pipes branching from said outlet pipe, jackets for coolant surrounding said condenser tubes, means for circulating a coolant through said jackets, and means in said spray chamber for spraying fluid into steam passing through said apparatus substantially at the crotch with which said spray chamber communicates.

2. In apparatus of the class described, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a'plurality of pipes branching from said inlet pipe and said outlet pipe and forming crotches 'th'erebetween, spray chambers communicating respectively with 1 each said crotch, condenser tubes interconnecting the pipes branching from said inlet pipe with the pipes branching from said outlet pipe, jackets for coolant surrounding said condenser tubes, straightening vanes inside said condenser tubes, an expansion orifice in each condenser tube, means for circulating a coolant through said jackets, and means in said spray chambers for spraying fluid into steam passing through said apparatus substantially at said crotches.

3. In apparatus of the class described, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a plurality of pipes'branching from said inlet pipe and said outlet pipe at angles of approximately 45 and forming crotches therebetween, spray chambers communicating re spectively with each said crotch, condenser tubes interconnecting the pipes branching from said inlet pipe with the pipes branching from said outlet pipe, jackets for coolant surrounding said coninterconnecting the pipes branching from said inlet pipe with the pipes branching from said outlet pipe, jackets for coolant surrounding said condenser tubes, straightening vanes inside said condenser tubes, an expansion orifice in each condenser tube between said straightening vanes and said outlet pipe, means for circulating a coolant through said jackets, and means in said spray chambers for spraying fluid into steam passing through said apparatus.

'5. In apparatus of the class described, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a plurality of pipes branching from said inlet pipe and said outlet pipe at angles of approximately and forming crotches therebetween, spray chambers communicating respectively with each said crotch, condenser tubes interconnecting the pipes branching from said inlet pipe with the pipes branching from said outlet pipe, jackets for coolant surrounding said condenser tubes, straightening vanes inside each condenser tube and spaced along the length thereof, an expansion orifice in each condenser tube between said straightening vanes and said outlet pipe, means for circulating a, coolant through said jackets, and means in said spray chambers for spraying fluid into steam passing through said apparatus.

6. In apparatus of the class described, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a plurality of pipes branching from said inlet pipe and said outlet pipe at angles of approximately 45 and forming crotches therebetween, spray chambers aligned with inlet pipe and said outlet pipe and communicating respectively with each said crotch, condenser tubes interconnecting the pipes branching from said inlet pipe with the-pipes branching from said outlet pipe, jackets for coolant surrounding said condenser tubes, straightening vanes inside each condenser tube and spaced along the length thereof, an expansion orifice in each condenser tube between said straightening vanes and said outlet pipe, means for circulating a coolant through said jackets, and means in said spray chambers for spraying fluid into steam passing through said apparatus.

' JACK FANNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

